MoCo Police Officer Featured on Investigation Discovery Show Tonight
Per Montgomery County Police:
Tonight at 10PM, WATCH OR SET YOUR DVR to the Investigation Discovery channel to see Officer Michael Damskey featured on the show “Body Cam”.
A synopsis of what will be shown on tonight’s episode is below:
On the night of February 26 into the morning of February 27, 2019, Officer Michael Damskey was working the midnight shift in the 4th District.
At approximately 11:40 p.m. on February 26, 2019, Officer Damskey was conducting a traffic stop on Georgia Avenue at Bel Pre Road when he observed a traffic collision. One of the involved vehicles became fully engulfed in fire. Officer Damskey quickly retrieved his fire extinguisher from his police car, used it to diminish the flames in the vehicle, and pulled the driver from her burning vehicle.
The investigation by Collision Reconstruction Unit detectives would determine that the victim was stopped at a red light on Georgia Avenue at Bel Pre Road when her vehicle was struck from behind by another vehicle traveling at 117 miles per hour.
MCP’s video of this event (which was originally released in March of 2020) can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0_nmMcZxcI
Note: This video contains body-worn camera footage of the rescue and may not be suitable for everyone.
Montgomery County Department of Police Announce Three Assistant Chief Appointments
Per Montgomery County:
Chief Marcus G. Jones of the Montgomery County Department of Police is pleased to announce the appointments of three new Assistant Chiefs of Police, following the unanimous confirmation by the Montgomery County Council.
Assistant Chief Darren Francke, Management services Bureau; Assistant Chief Marc Yamada, Field Services Bureau and the first civilian Assistant Chief, Carmen Facciolo; Community Resources Bureau will officially begin their roles immediately.
“These three gentlemen will be a tremendous asset to our police department,” Chief Marcus Jones said during today’s County Council interview. “I have known Marc Yamada and Darren Francke for a long time and are both fine police officers and executives, but they are also fine family men. I do believe we found a gem in Carmen Facciolo in his role as the assistant chief of the community resources bureau,” Chief Jones continued.
“I want to congratulate our new Assistant Chiefs Carmen Facciolo, Darren Francke and Marc Yamada. These appointments are significant because they are happening as we reimagine public safety in the County,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “These new chiefs will play an important role in helping lead the department as we implement new procedures, policies and practices. I am excited that our police department now has its first civilian assistant chief. This new and historic role will take the lead on working with the community directly to help build relationships and greater trust between officers and communities. Our residents deserve to have confidence that MCPD is serving and protecting everyone, no matter what neighborhood or zip code they live in.”
Assistant Chief Darren Francke has been in law enforcement for nearly 25 years. He is a widower and lives in Montgomery County with his three daughters.Francke graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1996 with a degree in Administration of Justice. During college he joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as an enlisted infantryman. He subsequently attended Officer Candidate School and accepted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He joined the Montgomery County Department of Police in 1996 and has served there since. As a police officer and executive, Francke has served in every bureau of the Department. His positions included patrol officer for all three shifts, District Investigations, Robbery Detective, Homicide and Sex Detective, Patrol Sergeant, and Leadership Development Sergeant. As an executive, he has served as a District Deputy Commander, Patrol Services Executive Officer, Training and Education Division Director and Major Crimes Division Director. During his career he has taught leadership nationally and internationally for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. His two most recent assignments were as a Commander for the 1st and 3rd District Stations. Assistant Chief Francke is excited to be the co-chair of the Reimagining Public Safety Implementation Committee for Montgomery County. During his off time, he enjoys coaching his daughter’s fastpitch softball team with a community youth sports association.
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Assistant Chief Darren Francke (Original Image)
Assistant Chief Marc Yamada was born and raised in Wheaton and has spent his entire life living in and raising his family, including four children, in Montgomery County. He graduated from Wheaton High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Frostburg State University. He has served as a Montgomery County police officer since August of 1988 and he has worked in all four Bureaus in the Department. He was assigned to the 4th District (Wheaton), as a rookie and spent the first part of his career working in narcotics. He has served the community as a patrol officer, a detective, a supervisor and now as an executive.
Assistant Chief Marc Yamada (Original Image)
Assistant Chief Carmen Facciolo Assistant Chief Facciolo joins the Montgomery County Police Department from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office where he served as a Deputy Chief overseeing the Strategic Enforcement and Intergovernmental Relations Division. In this role, Assistant Chief Facciolo directed all intelligence and crime strategies efforts, technical investigations including crime scene, photo, cell-site analysis, and digital forensics, forensic science services, strategic technology, the planning and analysis unit, and the alternatives to incarceration bureau. Assistant Chief Facciolo served as District Attorney Clark’s liaison to federal, state, and local law enforcement, forensics, and intelligence agencies, and managed her relationships with federal and state elected officials, local legislators, The Hill, and stakeholder organizations. Lastly, Assistant Chief Facciolo coordinated the county’s response to major law enforcement incidents, the opioid epidemic and mental health and crisis intervention services.
Before joining the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, Assistant Chief Facciolo served as a senior policy advisor with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Program. He was the primary architect of many national programs for the federal government including the Body-Worn Camera Program, intelligence for law enforcement, human trafficking taskforces, mental health crisis responses and homicide and forensic investigations.
Prior to his federal service, Assistant Chief Facciolo provided technical assistance domestically, in the Middle East, The Northern Triangle, South America, and Asia on behalf of the State Department and the US Department of Justice at the Center for Court Innovation. He began his career with the State of Delaware, where he managed the (now) President Judge’s integration of statewide behavioral health and criminal justice programs. Assistant Chief Facciolo is a graduate of the University of Delaware and Harvard University, where he is currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts in Government. He has worked on numerous political campaigns at the local, state, and national levels. Most recently, he served as a policy advisor to Mayor Pete Buttigieg in his 2020 Presidential Campaign and as a policy committee member for the Biden/Harris 2020 Presidential Campaign.
Assistant Chief Facciolo lives in Washington, DC with his wife.
Two Local Youngsters Earn Awards for Heroic Actions
Right Care When It Counts Awards are presented by The Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMMS). These awards recognize a child who acted so that others would receive “the right care when it counts.”
Per Montgomery County Police:
• Cortlynn was performing her morning safety patrol duties at her elementary school on January 29, 2020, when she observed a toddler dash ahead of her parent and run in the direction of the busy “drop off” loop. Cortlynn grabbed the toddler before she entered the roadway and into oncoming traffic. Cortlynn’s quick thinking and her immediate action exemplify the crucial traits of a safety patrol.
• 10-year-old Holden called 9-1-1 on July 13, 2020, when his father suffered a medical emergency at home. Holden, while comforting his younger sister, answered every question posed by the call taker in a calm and articulate manner. Holden continually updated the call taker on his father’s condition and was able to provide the dispatcher with important information to assist medical personnel. Holden, despite being worried about his father’s condition, stayed focused on getting the care his father needed. (911 tape available)
WHEN:
Today, Wednesday, May 19, at 3:00 pm
WHERE:
Chief J. Thomas Manger Public Safety Headquarters
100 Edison Park Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
outside, front courtyard
Wednesday afternoon, Montgomery County Police received reports of a male threatening to harm himself in the area of Brighton Dam Road and Bordly Drive, between Georgia and New Hampshire Avenues.
A large number of Montgomery County Police and Maryland-National Capital Park Police units responded to the area to assist in the search. A Maryland State Police-Aviation Command helicopter assisted in the search. The situation was resolved peacefully shortly before 5PM Wednesday.
Update: Officers have located the person. He is unharmed.
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) April 28, 2021
Police activity: Area of Brighton Dam Road and Bordly Drive. MCP searching for person who has been reported as threatening to harm himself and reported as possibly possessing gun. Avoid area. Follow police direction.
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) April 28, 2021
Double Murder Investigated in White Oak
Around 11:45PM Wednesday, the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received calls reporting sounds of gunshots and then shortly after calls for a confirmed shooting in the 1500 block of November Circle in White Oak.
Responders arrived and found two individuals who had been shot multiple times. Tragically, both individuals did not survive their injuries.
The Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division is now investigating. Anyone with information is urged to call 240-773-5070 or 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted online.
Montgomery County 911 Call Taker Recognized for Helping Gaithersburg Couple Deliver Baby
Featured Photo Courtesy of Montgomery County Police
Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) Director Cassandra Onley says the ECC received and processed more than 727,000 calls for service in 2020 alone. However, just one of those call has Public Safety Emergency Communications Specialist (Call Taker/Dispatcher) Cameron Ivory saying he’ll remember it forever.
Around 8:17PM on November 13th, 2020, Ivory answered a call from a Gaithersburg man reporting his wife was in labor and delivery was imminent. Ivory talked the caller through the successful home delivery of the baby. Recently, Ivory and the family were able to virtually reunite via Facetime. Baby Isabella and family are all doing well!
A video about Cameron Ivory’s help with the delivery can be seen here.
